What's so good about Christian rock?

[holyrokker]

I see a lot of threads and comments about:

1) Christian rock is evil
2) Christian rock is mediocre music.

Let's hear your opinions about what is good about Christian rock.

How has it had a positive influence in your walk with Christ?
How has it impacted people you know?
Is there any Christian music that excels in musicianship and songwriting?
How is Christian rock justified biblically?

 

[guitargeekette]

Now that's what I'm talkin about!
Well, what I'll say for now is that it CANNOT be evil. Music is merely a composition of notes that make a melody. It means nothing without lyrics added...which in most cases with Christian Rock is a meaningful inspiring message.

Everyone has different tastes in music, so for those who like alternative/rock, when they get saved they still have music to listen to. For my friends, they gravitate to the intensity of the music and the meaning of the words...one of them even said "Why didn't I know about this before! This is so cool, I'm a Christian and now I can listen to cool Christian music!" As for me. there are some songs out there that really help me by reminding me of vital things I need to remember in this Christian walk, like He loves me but I need to walk worthy of him and not be a roller coaster luke warm Christian.

Music was created as a powerful means of Praise. Kings of the bible used music for EVERYTHING including to calm their anger. The genre should not matter, as long as the words associated is giving glory to God and encouraging Christians along the way, and ministering to the heathen as well.

As for musicianship and progressive songwriting, that can be demonstrated whether one is a Christian or not and believe me, there are some Christian rock bands and artistes that are so poetic and moving in their songs.

 

[Sketcher]

1) People will listen to rock anyway, might as well make good rock that is good for the soul. This is one of the driving reasons for Steve Rowe's ministry, to take away that stumbling block.

2) It has encouraged people. We are commanded to encourage each other, and music is an appropriate medium for that.

"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." - Ephesians 5:19-20

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." - Colossians 3:16

3) It has literally saved lives. Many teenagers think that killing themselves is an option, particularly if they grew up in abusive homes. Songs by P.O.D., KJ-52 and others have, confirmed by fan feedback, helped keep people from killing themselves. If you believe in free will, this wouldn't have happened any other way. If you don't, then God delighted to use this sort of music to accomplish His purpose. I don't know how those people are doing now, but they are certainly better off than they would have been had they succeeded in taking their own lives. Christian rock is a way that God uses to deliver people from Satan.

4) It gives positive role models. The world, they honor their musicians for taking more drugs, having more sex, spouting more blasphemy, and to be fair, also for musical talent. There are Christian bands out there who are great role models, however imperfect they may be (the same can be said of lots of other Christians). Have you ever had guns pulled on you specifically because you are a Christian? NIV has. Do you minister to people in the gutter of life? P.O.D. does.

 

[swingnscream]

I'm gonna put my shoe in the door, but I'll be back to respond to this interesting thread later.

 

[TheThrill]

Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms. James 5:13


Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise. For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. Psalms 33:1-4


What's beautiful is that Christian Rock can be more than just music. Yes, it's praise-worthy. But it's also a message. It's also a ministry. Afterall, are we not all instructed to go and teach all nations? Are we not all instructed to spread the word of the Lord? Christian Rock does that in so many ways, it's laughable to suggest otherwise.

 

[swingnscream]

Ok this is hard one, of course generalizations are always hard, but here's what I like about it although it does not apply to all bands within the Christian scene ...but usually it's a few things I've seen in the bands I love the most. :
(breakout the soapbox )

Love it when musicians/artist are down to earth. They know they're ppl and they know their fans are ppl. They're basically only on stage to "lead the music" for the evening. If your not singing (loudly) & dancing around with them they feel disappoint in the evening

I love it when they don't just write another entertaining or catchy song, but something with soul and essence in it.
Of course there's a lot of bands even in the Christian scene ...even in the P&W scene... that make really lame songs cause they sell the best and ppl request them on the radio way too much cause they get stuck in your head. However, there are those who write from experience, imagination, a sense of poetry, emotion -things that are actually part of the human experience/existence and in a way connects us through being able to relate to something deeper.
In the Christian scene, the fact that their not afraid to also talk about God & spirituality is great because that is a big part of the human experience & related struggles. I would think it'd be awkward to not mention any of that ever ... or in a very sideways approach to it.

I love it when the band is looking out for the kids in pit. Go to town in there, but be careful you don't intensionally cause any harm. I once heard one of the bands mention how the Bible says if your brother falls pick him up, and he told the kids in the pit, if someone falls down pick him up and get out of harm's way. That's what we do - go crazy but still show love/compassion. That's what we're all about.

I've seen Christian musicians who will pray with a fan after talking one on one with them, those who will counsel or provide a listening ear to someone who comes up them.
(again not all or prehaps many Christian bands do this but I've seen my favorite bands be these kinds of very approachable & caring ppl)

I appreciate the many of them don't curse on stage, and therefore don't promote that in their audience.

I appreciate the bands who will play in bars or church gyms, wherever they can meet their fans/audience.

I appreciate the bands/artist who pray for and support other bands because they made friends with them while touring together or heard them play at the same festival or something like that

 

[cerealkiller88]

Also, Christian bands don't just have to sing praise songs. I like that there are Christian bands who still enjoy just having fun.

 

[holyrokker]

Also, Christian bands don't just have to sing praise songs. I like that there are Christian bands who still enjoy just having fun.

I agree. Like Family Force 5, Lost Dogs, The Showdown, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster.......

 

[jiminpa]

When my parents were killed, Margaret Becker's "I Will Not Lay Down" was a great help to me. The way it happened was so bizarre that to just be able to draw a line in the sand and shout with someone "I will not lay down!" helped keep me going. And I was a grown adult with children and a grandchild.

 

[Leader of the Banned]

Psalm 33:3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.